The Official Blog of the Gwinnett Braves, Triple-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Gwinnett Looking To Halt Skid Wednesday

Saturday night began an 11-game homestand in 10 days for the Gwinnett Braves. Game No. 5 from Coolray Field is set for Wednesday night and it should be a good one between Gwinnett and Buffalo.

Tuesday the G-Braves were shutout by the Bisons, 3-0. Buffalo scored one run in each of the first three innings of the game and would not look back from there. Add the fact that Matt Harvey, the No. 2 prospect in the New York Mets system, was on the bump and the G-Braves were looking at a near improbable comeback situation.

The G-Braves have lost five of their last six games, but are still resting comfortably in first place of the International League South Division at 19-12. The next closest team in the division is Charlotte at 15-16 who is four games behind your G-Braves. Gwinnett does not own the best record in the league anymore after their latest skid, however they are just one game behind the IL-leading Pawtucket Red Sox (20-13).

Buffalo (19-13) is surging after going 7-3 in their last 10 games and staring up in the standings at the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate, trailing by just a single game. The Bisons are loaded with pitching talent and will have their No. 4 overall prospect on the mound Wednesday, as he follows the No. 2 prospect last night.

Stefan Gartrell was named the International League Batter of the Week as he continues his torrid pace. The slugger is batting over .400 in his last seven games, including four home runs, nine RBI and an .850 slugging percentage. Gartrell rose his batting average from .165 to .216 in a matter of days.

Currently Jose Constanza is on a 9-game hit streak that he will be looking to extend on Wednesday against Jeurys Familia. On the season, the G-Braves left fielder is hitting a team-high .352 with 13 RBI and five stolen bases.

One of the top pitching prospects in baseball Jeurys Familia (2-1, 5.06) is set to take the mound Wednesday against G-Braves southpaw Yohan Flande(1-1, 2.96) for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Familia is the New York Mets No. 4 overall prospect according to Baseball America.

The host of the 2012 IL All-Star Game, Buffalo Bisons, are in town for their first match-up with the G-Braves this season. The two teams will battle in their first of two four-game series’ this season, with the initial meeting in Georgia. The two teams will play one another in another four-game set, the next time from Buffalo following the G-Braves current 11-game homestand. The season-series finale is set to take place from Tuesday May 15 through Friday May 18 in New York.

It is “Winning Wednesday” but be sure to catch to the voice of the G-Braves Tony Schiavone as he broadcasts the game live on 550 AM, WDUN.com or 102.9 FM if you can’t make it out to the ballpark. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

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